Currently, there are 34 species of mongooses described in the family Herpestidae, although further taxonomic research may lead to this number changing in the future. Twenty-five members of the taxon live in Africa, and nine in Asia. According to the current subdivision of Herpestidae, ― using not only morphology, but also behavioural ecology and molecular markers ― two subfamilies are supported within the taxon. The subfamily Herpestinae involves 23, mostly large and solitary mongoose species (genus Atilax, Bdeogale, Cynictis, Galerella, Herpestes, Ichneumia, Paracynictis, Rhynchogale, Xenogale), while the subfamily Mungotinae comprises 11, mainly small and social species (genus Crossarchus, Dologale, Helogale, Liberiictis, Mungos, Suricata).

In the list below, you can see which species have been kept in mixed exhibits in captivity. Due to the similarities in morphology and lifestyle, an additional species, the narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata) is also mentioned here (recent placement of this taxon is: family Eupleridae, Madagascar Carnivores, subfamily Galidiinae, Mongoose-like Madagascar Carnivores).

Mutualism, as a new concept of mixed-species exhibitry

Social species often display an impressive level of cooperation such as babysitting youngsters or predator perception and deterrence; but interspecific cooperation also occurs within the taxon Herpestidae. Common kusimanses have been observed playing with mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona). Liberian mongooses (Liberiictis kühni) are often found in association with sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) and flee in response to the primates’ anti-predator warning calls. Banded mongooses also respond with increased vigilance to the alarm calls of several other species, particularly plovers (Vanellus spp.), slender-tailed meerkats respond to the warning calls of fork-tailed drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis), and southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas). It is worth mentioning that fork-tailed drongos are capable of using deceptive mimicked alarm calls to steal food from different birds and meerkats (kleptoparasitism).Cape grey mongooses (Galerella pulverulenta) have been observed to associate with small raptors, such as African marsh harriers (Circus ranivorus) during foraging.The yellow mongoose was observed in cooperative vigilance with a group of meerkats. Meerkats are excellent diggers and excavate dens themselves, but usually occupy dens dug by other small mammals. These shelters may be shared with yellow mongooses and South African ground squirrels (Xerus inauris).Furthermore, in some cases we can speak about real mutualistic relationships. Common dwarf mongooses in the Taru desert region of Kenya form foraging communities with a variety of endemic bird species, especially the Von der Decken’s hornbill (Tockus deckeni), the eastern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus flavirostris) and the red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus). This mutualistic association between the birds and the small mammals is actively sought by both parties, so both the hornbills and the mongooses seek each other out in order to forage together and warn each other of nearby raptors and other predators.Common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda) and Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) have learned to lie down in the presence of banded mongooses. In response, the mongooses have learned to inspect the warthogs for ticks, groom them, remove and eat ectoparasites.These mutualistic relationships have served as a base for creating mixed-species exhibits with the given mongoose species in captivity: banded mongoose & common warthog coexistence has been tried out in Chester Zoo (United Kingdom); common dwarf mongoose & hornbill (Tockus spp.) combination has been created in Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Austria), Tiergarten Nürnberg (Germany), Bronx Zoo (USA), Dallas Zoo (USA), Oregon Zoo (USA) and Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History (USA).

LIST OF SPECIES COMBINATIONS

The list shows examples of species combinations with at least one herpestid species combined with the taxa below

Institution(s) with this coexistence: Reaseheath Zoo (Nantwich, United Kingdom), San Diego Zoo (United States of America), World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park (Cape Town, South African Republic)

Conclusion

This document purposefully focuses on creating a list of mixed-species exhibits with Herpestids, for further and detailed information it is worth contacting the institutions mentioned above. Only a short summary of the general experiences is given here. Many of the listed coexistences are still ongoing at present; many of them are not anymore.Mongooses can play prey and predator species in a mixed exhibit as well. In case of mongoose and lion cohabitation, the smaller species has an enclosure of their own. They have access to the enclosure of the big cats through tunnels, where many alternative tunnels and exits are hidden. In a coexistence of meerkats, yellow mongooses and lions, a lethal accident has also been reported during the period of introduction, as one of the lions was able to catch a mongoose.One of the most important question is to decide whether we would like to breed the species involved in a multi-species exhibit. On several occasions, porcupines, ground squirrels and rock hyraxes with youngsters had to be separated from meerkats, as the mongooses could have been dangerous to the babies and might have killed them. A few lethal accidents have also been reported with these combinations.Many species of mongooses, especially meerkats, dig holes which could be dangerous for small and large ungulate species as well. These hoofed mammals could also be dangerous, on one occasion a meerkat was trampled to death by a Giraffe.Housing diurnal mongoose species with nocturnal species, such as aardvarks, means that animals generally use the exhibit at different times of the day. In one of the zoos, meerkats had climbing structures and hollowed logs the aardvark did not have access to or fit into, furthermore, a plexiglass wall with a mongoose-sized access divided the space so that the meerkats had an area of their own.In many cases, primates pose special problems in a multi-species exhibit. In some cases, overt aggression between the species occured, e.g. banded mongooses were killed by a mandrill. Even in the absence of a high level of aggression between the species, there may be evidence that one of the species is under stress. Diana monkey & common kusimanse cohabitation proved to be unsuccessful.